Barn cleaner



c. F. DRETZKE BARN CLEANER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 12; 1948 m M m p M M 43 n n H e I g w v E m5 m9 o QV Qm. Nh C! M wm & gs w 4m v vQ m3 6 v.

Q %k\ B vn F N\\ g m on mm 5 an L QQ @Q o mm g ow Qw WW vm mm vm mm vQ NM N F] m C. F. DRETZKE June 26, 195] BARN CLEANER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor W Mfil s C. F. DRETZKE BARN CLEANER June 26, 1951 Filed March 12, 1948 June 26, 1951 c. F. DRETZKE 2,558,424

BARN CLEANER Filed March 12, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I58 42 40 l I36 m 60 I W 138 "In. Q. n. 7

L Carl F. D re fzke IN VEN TOR.

C. F. DRETZKE June 26, 1951 BARN CLEANER s Shets-Sheet 5 Filed March 12, 1948 Carl F. Dre/Ike INVEN'IOR.

Patented June 26, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF! CE BARN' CLEANER Carl F. Dretzke, Manawa,.Wis.

Application March 12, 1948, Serial No. 14,569

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved: barn cleaner and has for its primary object to quickly and readily clean the drainage gutters usual in the floors of barns.

An important object oftheinvention isto provide an improved chain guide forthe chains of the conveyor as it is withdrawn from the barn as it is being cleaned for deposit of manure intc'a waste receptacle;

A further important object of the invention is to employ an improved type of control whereby a single motor and appropriate connections enable the operator to windup either the chain cleaners or to wind upthe return cable.

A further object of the invention is tolprovide novel means to connect'thecleaner to the barn structure to remain-stationary while in use.

A still further object of the' invention: is taprovide an improvedchain-return support and guide structure:

And a still further objector the invention is to provide improved chain and cleaning means construction.

And yet another" object-of the invention is to provide an improved barn door construction especially adapted for thechain'cleaners.

Features of the invention provide an especially emcient chain guide construction toprevent the chain linksfro-m catching or lifting out of operating position; resilient means to allow forlarge obstructions while the cleaner is in operation; a double clutch means to selectively wind the chain conveyor or to return it tooriginal position in the barn; lever means to lock the cleaner to the barn structure while the device is to be used; a telescoping standard to guide and center the chain return means; a novel chain-andcleaning barconnection; and a slidab'le barn trap door construction with especial provision to accommodate the cleaner chains whilekeeping the barn door closed when the device is. notinuse.

With these and other objects in view; the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically: described, claimed and illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is'a side elevational viewof. thedevice of the invention in operating relation with a barn;

Figure 2 is a top plan view'of theinvention illustrated in Figure 1;v

Figure 3 is a rear end. elevation of the invention;

Figure 4, is a transverse vertical view: oi the cleaner and chain guide means;

2. v Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section of the chain"; return guide and mounting means; Figure 6 is an enlarged rear View, partly in section, illustrating the clutch control means;

Figure 7 isa plan viewof the chain and cleaning bar illustrating the improved connecting means;

Figure 8 is a fractional end view of the cleaner construction" of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a front elevational viewof the support means for the return cable; I Figure 10 is a front elevaticnal view of th cable guide means within the-barn and is taken along thelines l0l0 of' Figure 5;

Figure 11 is a'view similar to-Figure 1-0,butat right angles thereto;

Figure 12 is a front elevation of thebarn trap door construction; and

Figure 13 is a transverse section takensubstantially on lines !3-I 3 of Figure 12.

This invention represents an improvement over the barn cleaner construction ofpending application No. 652,538, filed. March 7, 1946 and now forfeited;

Referring to 'thefigures, and especially toFigures 1 and 5, 20 designates a barn including a front wall 22, rear wall 24 andfioor 26, together with a channeled gutter 28 in which a train of cleaning chains 30 travels.

The barn cleaning structure is generally: indicated at 32 and includes an inclined trough 34-, chain operating member 36 and disk chain'guiding wheels 38 supported on horizontal frame member 40' carrying suitable wheels 42- mounted in any desired manner to frame 40 at 44 and riding on tracks 45 as is described in greater detail in copending application, Ser; No. 652,538.

Trough 34 consists of a relatively short horizontal leg 48 which is so constructed that it is moved into alignment with channel member 28 for a purpose presently to be described. The inclined section 50 of trough assembly 34 extends upwardly for a considerable length to terminate inon arcuate, grooved end 52, receiving in close proximity thereto a roller 54 over which chains 30 travel to be wound upon a large drum 56.

Roller 54 is mounted on transverse shaft 58 ro ta-tably received in bearings BOsecured in any suitable manner, such as by bolts 62, to a pair of braces 64 riveted at 66 to trough 50. A pair ofstrengthening braces 68 are fastened to braces 64 atone end and to standard support 166 of barn cleaner ID at the opposite extremity thereof. Trough 34 includes a movable lever 19 pivoted at II for connection with the barn structure, as will shortly be explained.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 4 particularly, disk guide 39 consists of a pair of parallel disks I2, mounted on a transverse roller I4 a short distance inwardly from the ends thereof and includes a plurality of triangularly shaped guiding members or spades I6 for control of chains 30 which must travel thereunder after they have left barn 20 and prior to travel up inclined trough 50 to the point of disposal below roller 54. This construction is of particular advantage over the usual star or spoke type of guiding wheel used prior to this invention. The individual spoke members of star wheels are very flexible, thus causing them to bend and laterally slip out of position when encountering a particularly large mass of manure carried from a barn by the usual chains, causing some of the refuse to fall over the sides of the trough, or lose control of the chain member, causing them to be raised and spillin their contents; Disks I2 provide the necessary rigidity for chain guide members 'l6. Flat edges I8 of spades I6 will not catch anddetain links, as frequently occurs in the use of forked star wheels, and permit disk I2 to be mounted closer to the base of horizontal leg 48. It is of extreme importance to maintain chains 30 adjacent to leg 48,"as otherwise chains 30 might rise and permit some of the removed refuse from the barn to fall through the chains, to be carried back to'the barn on the return travel thereof. The diameter of roller I4 assists in preventing spilling of the manure, since it retains the return cable 2I8 close to leg 48 in the initial movement of the cleaners. In the star wheel type, cable 2I8 would lift and so raise chains 30 to cause themto drop the waste being removed from the barn. It is to be noted that triangular guides I6 are set at an angle so that they will not lift the manure out of the trough. Thus, roller I4 and disks I2 combine,

Thus; they are protected'from the elements and are notsubjec't to 'mechanical failure due to rusting or freezing, which would occur were they'p'ermittd to remain exposed. Springs I90 provide resilient action for guiding wheels 38 and are'-'tensioned in any desired manner, as by means of threaded bolts I02 secured to springs I (not shown). Of course, it is to be understood that sleeves 92 could be eliminated and sleeves 94 be extended to connect directly to pipe cap 93. Springs I00 would.be placed within; pipe 92 and secured to cap 93. The bearing means for rotating disks I2 and roller I4 insure smooth performance, whereas the forked shafts on the usual star wheels are mounted directly on the shaft itself and tend to frictionally bias the structure. In the present construction, shoulda particularly large mass of manure travel under roller I4, springs I00 would permit members 92and 94 carrying shaft 90 to temporarily adjust themselves and enable the manure to 4 pass therethrough. A steel guide I04 is mounted on each side of disk'IZ to additionally guard against the manure spilling out of trough 34.

The chain operating means 36, as is best illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and 6, includes a large chain winding drum 56 mounted on lay shaft I06 received in a bearing I08 and mounted in a housing IIO. A large gear H2 is mounted on shaft I6 and engages a smaller gear II4 mounted on drive shaft II6 by means of clutch engaging member II8. Drive shaft II6 has mounted thereon a driven sprocket I carried by means of sprocket chains I22 around a sprocket drive member (not shown), being rotated by the take-off power shaft I24 on motor I26. Motor I26 carries a gear reduction means I30 coupled together at I32. The sprocket as sembly is enclosed in a housing I34 mounted on brackets I36 bolted at I38 to frame 40 and to chain drum housin H0 at I40. A guard MI is securedto trough 5 and horizontal frame 40 to-protect motor I26 and gear reduction means I30'from being dirtied by manure cleaned from the barn.

A lever I42 is pivotally mounted at I44 to flange I46 secured to housing H0 and includes a double-dogged clutch member I48 slidably engageable with either drum means 56 or a cable winding smaller drum I50 rotatably mounted on main shaft H6. Shaft H6 terminates in bearings-I52 bolted at I54 to a short channel standard I56bolted at I58 by means of a short angle bracket to frame 4. Thus, by simply moving lever I42 to the left or-to the right, the chain winding drum 56 or the cable winding drum I50 is selectively actuated. An eye member I62 is mounted on drum I50 to receive the end of a cable 2I8. A brake member I 64 including a brake cap and spring therein (not shown) is mounted on one of a pair of supporting stand ards I66 and engages chain drum 56. Handle 168' is pivotally mounted at I10 to actuate brake rod I12 and is pivotally secured at I14 to'flange I16 bolted at I18 to housing IIO. Thus, when it is necessary to prevent chain drum 56 from unwinding too rapidly when returning chain 30 togutter' 28, brake I64 is applied by the operator. A'switchbox I80, of conventional construction, is secured to standards I66 and is connected by means of pipe sleeve I92 with an electric wire I64 leading to barn 20 through I86 to a suitable source of c'urrent'sup'ply.

' Barn 20 includes a trap door I88 slidably mounted in oppositely disposed channel members I9' (see Fig. 2). Channel members I96 are of L-shaped construction and include vertical legs I92 and lateral legs I94. brackets I96 bolted at I96. Legs I94 carry angle arms 20, permitting lever l on horizontal leg 48 to lock in place and thereby align gutter 28 with trough 34. Guiding brackets I96 retain door I88 in position and aperture 264 permitsthe door to be readily raised. A pair of apertures 266 at the base of door I88 allow for chains 30, otherwisetrap door'I86 could not close tightly. Thus, it is readily apparent that in this type of construction,the entire barn door need not be open in order to clean out the gutter, but it only becomes necessary to raise trap door I96 while the cleaning process is carried out. When the device has been disconnected, trap door I88 is returned to'the original position, and again becomes tightly closed. Obviously, this construction is of material importance during thecold weather, as the opening of the barn 26 is reduced to a minimum.

Secured to legs I92 are Chains 30 consist of a train of parallel, spaced link members lying in gutter 28 and extend slightly beyond wall 22 of barn 29. Chain 30 continues as a double lead chain 332 beyond the ends of the first of cleats Zld lying in gutter 29, and is wound around drum 55. Channel iron cleats Eli} are transversely disposed (see Figs. 7 and 8) and are secured to horizontally disposed link members 29 of chain 3d at predetermined intervals. In this construction, bolts 212 secure cleats 250 by means of lock nuts 214 and washers 2i 6. Bolts 2m are flush with the upper edge of adjacent, vertically positioned link members 3! of chain 39. Thus, injury to the animals and wear on the bolt head is avoided.

Chains to terminate at the inner ends in barn 20 and are secured to a cable 2i 8 of either chains or rope, as may be desired, which lead over pulley 226, mounted on transverse pins 222 secured in brackets 224 mounted on a pair of telescoping standards 223, and pulley 22E rotatably mounted on door 22 and leading to drum ibii. Standards 226 are telescopically received in standard sleeves 227 and are retained in adjusted position by means of set screws 239. A guide plate 232 is welded between standards 227 and includes chain guide 23d bracketed to the upper edge of plates 232 in axial alignment with pulley 222. A pair of oppositely disposed flanges 236 are secured to standards 227 adjacent the floor 23 of barn 20 and receive a guide roller 238 under which chains 39 travel. Standards 22'! are cemented into the barn floor and will not move. The telescoping construction permits installation in any barn, and cable M8 is always in proper alignment whether winding or unreeling.

As is clearly shown in Figures and 11, cable 2H3 is maintained in aligned position on the ceiling of the barn by means of a U-shaped bar 240 welded to a rod 242 secured to the barn roof by means of lag screws 24 1. Cable Zlfl is thus able to move in any direction without danger of catching or snagging.

From the above description, the operation of the device is readily apparent. When it is desired to clean a particular barn, the cleaning device 32 is rolled up before barn door 22 on rails 46, and when in alignment therewith, lever 10 is pivoted into locking position on angle arms 265. Trap door I83 is then raised and chain assembly 3b is ready to be actuated. Motor I26 is then started and will rotate main shaft l IS in idling position by means of the chain and sprocket construction mounted thereon. When the manure in the barn is to be removed, lever M2 is shifted for clutch 43 to engage member I IE to rotate small gear H4, which in turn actuates large gear I I 2, gear I I2, in turn, rotating lay shaft I26 on which chain drum -56 is mounted. Chains 30, in their upward travel on inclined trough assembly 34, must first pass beneath disks l2 and are kept in line by means of spade guides 16. Resilient springs I00 mounted on each side of roller 74 permit temporary displacement of the roller to accommodate unusually large masses of refuse. The material to be disposed is carried by cleats 2|0 upwardly through inclined leg portions 50 to be discarded over roller 54 at the upper, outer extremity thereof into a disposal receptacle placed below (not shown). Chain 330, meanwhile, is wound up on drum 56. Lead chains 330 are secured to each extremity of drum 56, as shown in Figure 3, and wind up thereon from the outer edges of toward the center of drum 56. The length is such that when chains 330 reach the center of the drum, the first cleat 2H1 reaches drum 55 and again divides chains 330. While the manure is being removed from the barn, cable 2 I8 is rotated through the action of the chains to unwind in order to compensate for the travel of chains 33. Cable M3 is guided in its path of travel through roller 223 and U-shaped eye members 2% and around pulley 220 which is in vertical alignment with a guide member 234 mounted between parallel telescoping standards 2'26 and 221 on a plate 232. After the barn has been cleaned, lever I '52 is actuated in the reverse direction for clutch M9 to engage cable drum I59 to reverse the direction of travel. This causes cable 218 to wind on drum i5!) and correspondingly, chains 330 and 39 are unwound from drum 5%. When chains 38 are returned to their original position, trap door I88 is again placed in position and the device is ready to be used with another barn.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, it is to be understood that deviations may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A barn cleaner comprising a trough, material conveying chains disposed in said trough, a chain operating member connected to one end of said conveying chains, a pair of oppositely disposed disks disposed above said chains, a rotatable shaft extending through said disks, resilient means secured to the extremities of said shaft yieldingly supporting said disks over said chains to guide said chains, said resilient means including an upper sleeve member secured to said shaft concentric with and slidably embracing a concentric lower sleeve member, said lower sleeve being secured to said trough, a cap secured to said upper sleeve member, and a tension spring secured within said sleeves.

2. A barn cleaner comprising a trough, material conveying chains disposed in said trough, a chain operating member attached to one end of said material conveying chains, 2. chain guide member mounted above said trough and said chains, a pair of spaced, oppositely disposed telescoping standards adapted to be secured in a barn, a guide plate secured to said telescoping standards, a chain guide means mounted on said plate, a pulley carried by said standards and positioned above said guide plate and in axial alignment with said chain guide means, and a roller rotatably mounted at the bottom of said standards around which said material conveying chains are guided, an extension of said chains being guided over said pulley and below said roller.

CARL F. DRETZKE'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS .Number Name Date 1,077,339 Farrell Nov. 4, 1913 1,335,076 Peasley Mar. 30, 1920 1,441,555 Bobseine Jan. 9, 1923 1,441,841 Fink Jan. 9, 1923 1,827,236 Johnson et al Oct. 13, 1931 2,171,330 Custer Aug. 29, 1939 

